Overview

On an autumn day in 1890, eighteen-year-old Alice Butler and her sister Nora step out the massive doors of the Union Depot in Denver and into their new life, far from their home in Ireland. Call it what you may-coincidence, chance, or tragic fate-the same train has deposited two other young Irish immigrants at the foot of the Rockies that day: Thomas Quinn, a skilled carpenter with a heart for labor rights and brotherhood, and Emmett Kelly, a butcher with relentless self-interest at his core. In the following years, the lives of these four intersect, leading to loves, conflicts, and unexpected alliances. A devastating dispute shatters their world, testing their resolve to move forward. We are at their sides as they navigate personal challenges amidst sweeping social and economic changes, and we witness the indomitable spirit and resilience of immigrants daring to dream. Watching every setback turn into a step forward, every heartache reveal a stronger bond, we learn for ourselves the essence of ambition, the price of progress, and the infinite capacity for hope.

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9798990417151

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Reviews

""An engrossing historical novel. ... The Butcher on Colfax gives readers a 'you are there' feel for events-from the economic Panic of 1893 to the Spanish flu pandemic-and for the daily lives of those swept up in them. ... Amusing period slang and snappy dialogue will appeal to a general audience. ... An enlightening and enjoyable book."" -BlueInk Review ""The novel has strong feminist themes."" - U.S. Review of Books ""Historical fiction fans have much to enjoy in this authentic early 20th-century saga about women finding a way."" - Independent Book Review

Author Information

A retired university teacher, J.T. Tierney now writes novels that explore the intersection of resilience and wit. He is drawn to the way bright people-particularly women-navigate life's complications. His novel Perfect Plans was honored with a 2025 Reedsy Discovery Editor's Choice Award.

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